Stay(79)

“I want to be able to be close to you.”

“Okay,” he said with a half smile. “Take it slow.” Jackson was careful not to touch me as he settled onto the bed. I angled my body toward his, eyeing him up and down. I leaned closer and closer to him until my shoulder brushed against his. My heart sped up. Jackson rubbed his fingers against my palm again. I closed my eyes and rested my head on his shoulder. He carefully twisted and put his arm around me, gently resting his hand on my arm.

Jackson moved his face back. “Is this okay?” he whispered.#p#分页标题#e#

“Yes,” I whispered back. It was more than okay. His touch was different, gentle, enjoyable. My fear of not being able to love someone started to melt away. I looked into his dark eyes. Being there, tightly wrapped in Jackson’s embrace felt so right, so normal. I forgot about our hellish reality. All I thought about, all I wanted, was Jackson. He was the knight I had been looking for. Instead of shining metal he was covered in scars, which if you ask me, is some of the toughest armor one could wear.

I took my hand from his and moved it up, hovering above his waist. My heart skipped a beat when I let it fall. It was nerve wrecking to be this close to a man when every male I had encountered over the last few months hurt me in some way.

Jackson was different, I reminded myself. He was a victim, like me. I closed my eyes, feeling his muscle contract as he nervously held me in an awkward embrace. I wondered if I’d ever feel desire again. Was it possible for sex to be enjoyable?

I opened my eyes and looked into Jackson’s dark eyes, needing to make sure the man I was leaning against was really him and not one of my clients. Jackson gave me another smile, one that made me believe that there really might be hope for us to get out of here alive … and made me believe that yes, I could feel that desire again someday. I could want him.

The front door slammed shut, echoing up the stairs and startling me.

“Shit,” Jackson swore, his eyes widening. “Zane’s home.”





CHAPTER THIRTY





“WHAT DO WE do?” I asked and my body went numb with fear.

Jackson looked at the door, at me, and the door again. He jumped out of bed and ran his hands over his hair. He clenched his jaw. “Stay here. H-he probably won’t go downstairs right away.”

“Probably.” I knelt on the bed, twisting the sheets in my hands. I sharply inhaled, but the breath got caught in my chest. I gasped again.

“Adeline, stay calm. It’s gonna be okay. It has to be,” he added. He took a breath, stepped forward, and put his hand on the doorknob. “I’ll come get you when I can. Just, uh, be quiet.”

Jackson left the room, closing the door behind him. I held my breath and waited. I heard Jackson walk down the hall, the old floorboards creaking under him.

I scrambled off the bed when I realized that Zane would immediately see me if he opened the door. I tiptoed across the room and stood in the threshold of the bathroom. My hands trembled. I was terrified of what Zane would do to me if he found me in Jackson’s room, but I was even more afraid of what he would do to Jackson. I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes, trying to will myself not to panic.

I thought about Jackson, remembering the way his lips felt against mine. I wanted to feel it again. I was scared we would never get the chance. I let out a breath and opened my eyes, having avoided hyperventilating.

Voices floated up the stairs. I strained to hear what was being said, but the words were too muffled. Then they stopped talking. I put a hand on the doorframe and leaned out of the bathroom. Someone walked up the stairs, the click of hard-soled shoes echoing throughout the house. I stepped into the shadowy bathroom. Jackson was barefoot. It was Zane who was walking down the hall.

I jumped into the shower, hiding behind the curtain. There was nothing I could use as a weapon. I heard a soft click as the bedroom door opened. I put my hands over my mouth to silence my ragged breath.

“Addie?” Jackson whispered.

“Oh, thank God,” I breathed.

“Where are you?” he quietly asked.

I carefully stepped out of the tub. “I was hiding in the bathroom.”#p#分页标题#e#

“Oh,” he said as I emerged into the bedroom. He turned around, looking down the hall. “You have to hurry. Zane is changing. Go, now!”

I dashed to the door. Jackson put his hand on the small of my back and ushered me forward. He went first to make sure Zane was still in his room. With a racing heart, I ran through the hall. My bare feet slapped against the polished wood when I skidded to a stop at the top of the stairs. I internally winced but didn’t look back, knowing that Jackson was right behind me.